| Author |
Topic: Martin Hawaiians? |
Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
|
Posted 26 Mar 2004 7:42 pm |
|
I wondering if anyone out there owns, or has experience with, Martin H(awaiian) models.
I just acquired a 1929 2-17H -- an elegantly simple all-mahogany guitar with the original flush-mounted frets, non-compensated saddle and high nut. The "2" body is small -- a 12" lower bout -- but the sound is surprisingly big.
I have every intention of keeping it in the Hawaiian configuration, but I'm wondering how heavy I can go with the strings before I endanger the guitar. I've read that the 1922 2-17 was Martin's first guitar designed for steel strings, but I don't feel very comfortable putting much more than a set of .012 - .052 strings on it.
Suggestions? Warnings? Horror stories? |
|
|
 |
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
|
Posted 27 Mar 2004 4:01 am
|
|
| Russ, I'd call Martin. They have the most experience with their guitars and can give you the best advice. If you're going to use a high-tension tuning like C6th, you may want to tune down to Bb or A. When I use 6th tunings on my weisenborn, I use regular Dobro strings and tune to Bb6th or A6th. |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 27 Mar 2004 6:46 am
|
|
You might want to pick up a set of "Aloha" strings by Newtone. They are supposed to get up to pitch with less tension. I just picked up a set for my Superior Weissenborn from Guitar Gallery in White House, TN. Their web site is www.guitargal.com
Erv |
|
|
|
Robert Corwin
From:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
|
Posted 28 Mar 2004 2:18 pm
|
|
>>I just acquired a 1929 2-17H... I've read that the 1922 2-17 was Martin's first guitar designed for steel strings
The 1922 2-17 (not Hawaiian) was the first Martin to have steel as a regular feature. By 1929, almost everything was steel. I have a 0-28 and 00-28 from 1926, when steel was still being phased in on those models, and both do fine with light guage steel.
I recently picked up a 1934 00-40H, and it appears to be braced quite a bit heavier, so I would assume that Martin intended their Hawaiian guitars to be strung with heavier strings.
>>I'd call Martin. They have the most experience with their guitars and can give you the best advice.
You might think so, but I'd have to disagree with this one. No one at Martin has had the hands-on experience with as many vintage Martins as a long time dealer like Fred Oster at Vintage Instruments in Philadelphia, or a seasoned repair person like David Musselwhite, who's had his paws inside a heck of a lot of pre-war Martins. E-mail me privately for contact info.
I'd love to hear comments from others who have played Martin Hawaiians. Do you like playing them? Almost every 00-40H I've ever touched has already been converted for conventional playing. |
|
|
|
Doug Smith
From:
Medway, Ohio
|
Posted 29 Mar 2004 7:00 am
|
|
I have played a number of acoustic(wooden body) steels and my favorite is a 0018H Martin from 1940.
I almost always play out with resophonic instruments, but this Martin has a rich, sweet tone, especially in the lower register. The band liked it so much that we went ahead and made some recordings with it. Miking in a playing venue could be a problem.
I tune it to low bass E and C# minor, and use a regular guitar string set-mediums. I put a .016 on the first string. |
|
|
|
